Pallet cleaner

ABSTRACT

A device for cleaning pallets employed in molding concrete pipe including a roller arranged to engage the inner rim of the pallet which may be lifted to engage the outer rim surfaces of the pallet with rotatable brushes to clean residue from the pallet after a concrete pipe has been molded therewith, and which roller may be lowered to the floor after cleaning the pallet to thereby efficiently clean the outer rim surfaces of the pallet without the necessity of manually lifting and supporting same.

United States Patent [191 Lang [ Nov. 26, 1974 PALLET CLEANER PrimaryExaminerEdward L. Roberts [75] Inventor: David Lang, Mineral Wells, Tex.

Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Cameron, Kerkam, Sutton, [73] Assignee: HarscoCorporation, Harrisburg, Pa. st w ll & Stowell g .m M 0 m .m d e y b P me mm h x a p B m n a k. C r m e .m v 6 d 5A 3 7 9 0 m n. 2 22 J3 0 N D.FA 1 1 211 22 concrete pipe including a roller arranged to engage theinner rim of the pallet which may be lifted to engage the outer rimsurfaces of the pallet with rotatable brushes to clean residue from thepallet after a con- Crete pipe has been molded therewith, and whichroller may be lowered to the floor after cleaning the pallet to therebyefficiently clean the outer rim surfaces References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS of the pallet without the necessity of manually lifting andsupporting same.

15/21 D 15/21 R X 12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1,603,249 Stevensm.2,986,849 Clark llllhhh lllj lute

PATENTEL 9V2 61974 SHEET 2 (IF 4 PATENTELHUYZBW 3.849.820 SHEET 30$ 4PALLET CLEANER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION rolled about by one workman.After removal of the pallet from the concrete pipe, hardened residueremains on the inner surface thereof which contacts the concrete pipe,which must be removed prior to use of same in another molding operation.

Various means have been employed in the past for cleaning such pallets,including manual use of stiff brushes, and manually lifting same intocontact with.

mechanically rotated brushes. However, no quick and satisfactory meanshas been employed to quickly and easily clean the surfaces of the palletwhich contact the concrete in the molding operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I The present invention provides amachine comprised of a roller which may be lowered to engage the innerrim of a pallet so that the pallet may be lifted into engagement withrotatable brushes arranged so as to engage and clean all surfaces of thepallet which contact the concrete in the mold, and after cleaning thepallet may be lowered into engagement with the floor withoutthe'necessity of manual handling or cleaning.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a devicefor cleaning pallets employed in molding concrete pipe wherein thepallets may be moved into engagement with brushes arranged to clean allsurfaces in contact with the concrete in a mold without manual handlingor cleaning of such pallet.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for lifting a palletinto engagement with brushes arranged to be rotated into engagement withall surfaces of the pallet which contact the concrete in a moldingoperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting themovement of the pallets into contact with the brushes so that thesurfaces to be cleaned will uniformly contact the brushes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in such a palletcleaner, means to adjust the position and pressure relationship of thebrushes with the surfaces of the pallet so as to efficiently anduniformly clean same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein thepallet is picked up and moved into engagement with rotatable brushes toclean same and which may be lowered into engagement with the floor aftercleaning same.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a pickuproller which engages the inner surface of the pallet to pick same up andmove the inner rim thereof into engagement with rotatable brushes andafter such movement the said pickup roller may be rotated to rotate thepallet against the brushes by frictional engagement therewith.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means to guidethe-pallet into engagement with the brushes upon the lifting thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent uponreading the detailed specification hereinafter following and byreferring to the drawings annexed hereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A suitable embodiment of the invention isshown in the attached drawings wherein;

FIG. I is a front elevational view of the pallet cleaning device,showing the pallet prior to being lifted into engagement with thebrushes;

FIG. II is a side elevational view of the pallet cleaning device takenfrom the right side of FIG. I;

FIG. III is a front elevational view of the pallet cleaning device aftera pallet has been lifted into engagement with the brushes;

FIG. IV is a view partially in section and partially in elevation takenalong the line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. V is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. IV;

FIG. VI is a sectional .view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. II; FIG.VII is a fragmentized cross-sectional elevational view of a typical pipemold with a conventional pallet disposed in the end thereof for formingthe bell end of the pipe; and

FIG. VIII is a partially sectionalized elevational view showing thecleaning brushes as they would appear while in engagement with the innersurface of a pallet while cleaning same.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings numeral referencesare employed to indicate the various parts shown and like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The numeral 1 indicates a general frame for the machine which iscomprised of vertical members la and 1b, horizontal members Ic and 1dand reinforcing braces 1e and l f. The frame is supported on a suitablebase 2 which is mounted on skids 2a for the purpose of transportingsame.

A lifting and rotating roller 3 has a peripheral flange 3a thereonengageable with the inner rim of a pallet in the manner hereinafterdescribed.

The roller 3 is secured to an axle 4 which extends between the spacedarms 6 and 6a and is rotatably mounted on bearings 18 and 19 attached tosaid arms. The arms 6 and 6a are pivotally mounted to the frame by meansof bearings 7 and 7a secured to the inner side of the frame.

A hydraulically actuated lift cylinder 8 has an extendible rod 8atherein which is pivotally attached to a lug 10 secured to a plate 11which extends between the arms 6 and 6a and secures same together sothat they are moved in unison,

The hydraulic cylinder 8 is pivotally attached at 8b to the frame of themachine. Fluidis supplied to the hydraulic cylinder for expansion andcontraction of the rod 8a therein from a reservoir 9 through a hose 9a.

An electric motor 12 is mounted on the plate 11 and the drive shaftthereof is attached to a flexible shaft 120 which extends into a gearbox 13 through which the shaft 14 is rotated to thereby rotate thesprocket 140.

A drive chain 15 extends about the sprocket 14a and about a sprocket 16which is secured to the shaft 4. Thus, upon the actuation of the motor12 the shaft 4 is rotated through the drive chain 15 and thereby rotatesthe lifting and drive wheel 3.

The annular flange 3a on the drive wheel 3 is arranged to engage theinner flange 20a of a typical pallet 20 which is formed with acylindrical portion 21 having inner and outer surfaces 21a and 21b, aninwardly extending flange 20a, and an outwardly extending flange 21 toform the bell end of a concrete pipe 65. The pa]- let 20 has a centralpassage 20b therethrough through which excess concrete slurry isdischarged as the slurry is distributed on the inner surface of thejacket 64 by a conventional distributor head 64a to form the pipe 65.When the pallet is suspended on the lifting and rotating wheel 3 in theposition shown in FIG. III the rotation of the roller 3 by actuation ofthe motor 12 causes the rotation of the pallet 20 against the brushes,hereinafter described, by frictional engagement therebetween.

A plurality of rotatable brushes 23, 40, 45 and 50 are identically andadjustably mounted with reference to the frame, and a typical mountingand adjustment sleeve assembly is shown in FIG. IV in conjunction withthe brush 23.

Referring to FIG. IV, the electric motor 24 is arranged to rotate thebrush 23. The motor 24 is secured to a plate 25 by means of appropriatebolts 25a.

An arm 26, having a reinforcing rib 26a, thereon is secured to andextends from the mounting plate 25 and is secured to the tubular axle 29of the adjustment sleeve assembly.

A sleeve 27 is secured to the frame of the machine by means of a weld 28(FIG. V). The sleeve 27 is separated along a portion of the lengththereof to provide the bifurcated edges and 30a. The axle 29 may berotated in the sleeve 27 when the sleeve 31 is threaded outwardly uponthe screw 32. However, after rotatable adjustment between the sleeve '27and axle 29 in the manner hereinafter described the sleeve 31 may berotated by the handle 31a inwardly to thread same upon the screw 32,thereby bringing the edges 30 and 30a together to tighten the sleeve 27about the axle 29, to thereby secure the axle 29 and sleeve 27 togetherin adjusted non-rotatable position.

A turnbuckle 33 is pivotally engaged to the frame of the machine betweenthe cars 34 on the pivot bolt 35, and is pivotally mounted at the otherend to the arm 26 by means of a pivot bolt 36. Thereby when the sleeve31 and screw 32 are in loosened position, the rotary po- I sition of thebrush 23 may be adjusted by rotation of the turnbuckle 33 upon thescrews 33a and 33b therein to thereby rotate the arm 26 and axle 29attached thereto.

Lateral adjustment of the brush 23 is provided by means of a screw 38which is threadedly engaged in a block 37 secured to the axle 29. Ahandle 39 rotatably extends through a plate 39a which is secured to theend of the sleeve 27 so that by rotation of the screw 38 the axle 29will be caused to move inwardly and outwardly of the sleeve 27 tothereby adjust the horizontal position of the brush 23.

The brush 40 and motor 40a for driving same are mounted on an arm 41which is adjustably mounted to an identical adjustment assemblypreviously described in connection with brush 23, and the arm 41 may bepivoted about such adjustment assembly by the turnbuckel 33 attachedbetween the arm and the frame in the same manner as described withreference to the adjustment of brush 23.

Brushes 45 and are driven by motors 45a and 50a which are mounted onadjustment arms 46 and 51 identical to adjustment arm 26 hereinbeforedescribed, and are adjustable rotationally and horizontally by means ofadjustment tube assemblies 52 and 47 which are constructed identicallyto that previously described in connection with adjustment tube assembly29 (FIG. IV), such adjustment being made by means of the turnbuckles 53and 48 which are constructed and mounted in the same manner asturnbuckle 33 hereinbefore described.

The idler rollers 54 and 54a have grooved flanged peripheral edges 54b,and are rotatably mounted on ad justment arms 55 and 55a.

Lugs 56 and 56a are secured to the adjustment arms 55 and 55a and haveadjustment bolts 57 and 57a extending therethrough and through thearcuate adjustment slots 59 and 59a provided through the frame members58 and 58a so that the arms 55 and 55a may be adjusted inwardly oroutwardly by moving the bolts 57 and 57a along the slots 59 and 59a, andthen tightening the bolts down in adjusted position. Thereby the spacingbetween idler rollers 54 and 54a can be adjusted to accommodatedifferent diameters of pallets 20.

The arms 55 and 55a are pivotally mounted to the frame member 1e bymeans of lugs 60 and 60a to which the ends of said arms are attached bysuitable pivot bolts 61 and 61a.

The frame member also includes a screen guard on the side thereof toguard against contact with moving parts by workmen, and an arcuatedeflector plate 63 is provided to extend outwardly over the brushes toprevent particles removed by the brushes from being thrown outwardly ofthe machine.

A typical mold assembly for making concrete pipe is shown in FIG. VIIwhich includes an outer tubular shell 64 and an impeller assembly 64a.The pallet 20 is placed in the end of the form prior to depositingcement slurry into the form so as to provide a bell end on the pipeafter the pipe 65 is set in the form.

After the concrete is set in the form, the pallet 20 is removed and thecomponents making up the mold are removed from the concrete pipe soformed. The pallet normally has particles of cement and/or release agentadhering to the inner surface thereof which the machine of the presentinvention is intended to remove.

In operation the pallet 20 is normally rolled to a position in front ofthe machine as shown in FIG. I. The roller 3 is lowered by contractingthe rod 8a into the hydraulic cylinder 8 and positioned so that thepallet can be engaged thereover with the flange 3a on the roller 3engaging the offset flange 20a of the pallet, thereby suspending thepallet on the roller 3. The hydraulic cylinder 8 is then actuated toextend the rod 8a, thereby raising the roller 3, carrying pallet 20thereon, to a position where the pallet engages the brushes 23, 40, 45

and 50 in the manner shown in FIG. -VIII. The idler rollers 54 and 54aare adjusted so that they engage the edge of the pallet and limit theupward and lateral movement thereof. The brushes have previously beenadjusted with relation to the idler rollers 54 and 54a and the diameterof the pallet to be cleaned so that upon engagement of the periphery ofthe pallet with the idler rollers 54 and 54a, brush 23 is in engagementwith is in engagement with the bottom surface 22b of the flange 22,brush 40 is in engagement with the surface 22a of the flange 22, andbrush 50 is in engagement .with the surface 20c of the flange 20a, sothat all areas which have been exposed to the concrete in the mold arecontacted by said brushes to clean same upon rotation of the brushes andthe pallet.

inder 8 is actuated to withdraw the rod 8a thereinto,

thereby lowering the roller 3 and allowing the pallet 20 to be removedtherefrom and deposited on the floor.

Thus, the pallet is efficiently and quickly cleaned with a minimumamount of labor and effort.

Having described my invention I claim: 1. In a device for cleaning thehorizontal and vertical peripheral surfaces of concretepipe castingpallets,

said pallets having a central passage therethrough and a peripheral rim:a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rim thereabout arranged topass through the passage in the pallet and engage the edge thereof tosuspend the pallet thereon; first and second brushes rotatably supportedby the frame arranged to engage surfaces of the pallet; bristles on saidfirst brush engageable with horizontal surfaces on the pallet; bristleson said second brush engageable with vertical surfaces on the pallet;means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet into engagementwith the bristles on the first and second brushes; means to rotate thelifting roller about a horizontal axis; and means to rotate the brushes.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of spacedstop means to limit the upward and lateral movement of the liftingroller to position surfaces of a pallet against bristles of the brushes.

' 3. The combination called for in claim 2 with the addition of means toadjust the position of the brushes with relation to the spaced stopmeans.

4. In a device for cleaning the peripheral surfaces of concrete pipecasting pallets, said pallets having a central passage therethrough anda peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rimthereabout arranged to pass through the passage in the pallet and engagethe edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon; a plurality of brushesrotatably supported by ment with the brushes; means to rotate thelifting roller; and means to rotate the brushes.

5. The combination called for in claim 4 wherein the stop meanscomprises spaced rollers having grooves on the outer periphery thereofengageable with the rim of a pallet.

.the surface 21b of the cylindrical portion 21, brush 45 6. Thecombination called for in claim 4 wherein the adjustment means comprisesspaced arms pivotally attached to the frame at one end with the stopmeans mounted on the other end; arcuate slots in a frame portion of themachine; a pin attached to each arm and slidably passing through one ofthe slots; and means to fix each pin in adjusted position.

7. In a pallet cleaning machine, a frame; lifting means mounted on theframe; means to move the lifting means up and down with reference to theframe; a plurality of brushes arranged to engage surfaces of a palletwhen the pallet is supported by said lifting means; means to rotate thebrushes; spaced stop elements arranged to engage the periphery of thepallet suspended on the lifting means to position surfaces on a palletagainst the brushes; and means to adjust spacing between the stopelements to accommodate pallets of different diameters.

8. In a pallet cleaning machine, a frame; lifting means mounted on theframe; means to move the lifting means up and down with reference to theframe; a plurality of brushes arranged to engage surfaces of a palletwhen the pallet is supported by said lifting means; means to rotate thebrushes; spaced rollers arranged to engage the periphery of a palletsuspended on the lifting means to position surfaces on a pallet againstthe brushes; and a channel on the outer periphery of each of saidrollers arrangedto engage the edge of the pallet.

9. In a device for cleaning the peripheral surfaces of concrete pipecasting pallets, said pallets having a central passage therethrough anda peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rimthereabout arranged to pass through the passage in the'pallet and engagethe edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon; a plurality of brushesrotatably supported by the frame arranged to engage surfaces of thepallet; stop means to limit the upward and lateral movement of thelifting roller to position surfaces of a pallet against the brushes;means to adjust the position of the brushes with relation to the stopmeans; means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet intoengagement with the brushes; means to rotate the lifting rollers; andmeans to rotate the brushes, wherein the means to adjust each brushcomprises an arm on which the brush is mounted; a tubular member securedto the frame adjacent the arm; an axle telescoped in the tubular memberto which the arm is secured; means between the arm and the frame toadjustably rotate the axle in the sleeve; screw means between the axleand the sleeve to move the axle longitudinally of the tubular member;

' and means to secure the axle and tubular member the frame arranged toengage surfaces of the pallet;

stop means to limit upward and lateral movement of the lifting roller toposition surfaces of the pallet against the brushes; means to adjust theposition of the stop means with reference to the brushes; means to raisethe lifting roller to move the pallet into engagesaid lifting roller isarranged to pass through the central 12. The combination called for inclaim 11 wherein the means movably securing said lifting roller to theframe comprises: an arm; means securing said lifting roller to one endof said arm; means pivotally securing the other end of said arm to theframe; and wherein said means to raise the lifting roller comprises:means secured to the frame and t0 the arm to pivot the arm relative tothe frame.

1. In a device for cleaning the horizontal and vertical peripheralsurfaces of concrete pipe casting pallets, said pallets having a centralpassage therethrough and a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting rollerhaving a peripheral rim thereabout arranged to pass through the passagein the pallet and engage the edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon;first and second brushes rotatably supported by the frame arrAnged toengage surfaces of the pallet; bristles on said first brush engageablewith horizontal surfaces on the pallet; bristles on said second brushengageable with vertical surfaces on the pallet; means to raise thelifting roller to move the pallet into engagement with the bristles onthe first and second brushes; means to rotate the lifting roller about ahorizontal axis; and means to rotate the brushes.
 2. The combinationcalled for in claim 1 with the addition of spaced stop means to limitthe upward and lateral movement of the lifting roller to positionsurfaces of a pallet against bristles of the brushes.
 3. The combinationcalled for in claim 2 with the addition of means to adjust the positionof the brushes with relation to the spaced stop means.
 4. In a devicefor cleaning the peripheral surfaces of concrete pipe casting pallets,said pallets having a central passage therethrough and a peripheral rim:a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rim thereabout arranged topass through the passage in the pallet and engage the edge thereof tosuspend the pallet thereon; a plurality of brushes rotatably supportedby the frame arranged to engage surfaces of the pallet; stop means tolimit upward and lateral movement of the lifting roller to positionsurfaces of the pallet against the brushes; means to adjust the positionof the stop means with reference to the brushes; means to raise thelifting roller to move the pallet into engagement with the brushes;means to rotate the lifting roller; and means to rotate the brushes. 5.The combination called for in claim 4 wherein the stop means comprisesspaced rollers having grooves on the outer periphery thereof engageablewith the rim of a pallet.
 6. The combination called for in claim 4wherein the adjustment means comprises spaced arms pivotally attached tothe frame at one end with the stop means mounted on the other end;arcuate slots in a frame portion of the machine; a pin attached to eacharm and slidably passing through one of the slots; and means to fix eachpin in adjusted position.
 7. In a pallet cleaning machine, a frame;lifting means mounted on the frame; means to move the lifting means upand down with reference to the frame; a plurality of brushes arranged toengage surfaces of a pallet when the pallet is supported by said liftingmeans; means to rotate the brushes; spaced stop elements arranged toengage the periphery of the pallet suspended on the lifting means toposition surfaces on a pallet against the brushes; and means to adjustspacing between the stop elements to accommodate pallets of differentdiameters.
 8. In a pallet cleaning machine, a frame; lifting meansmounted on the frame; means to move the lifting means up and down withreference to the frame; a plurality of brushes arranged to engagesurfaces of a pallet when the pallet is supported by said lifting means;means to rotate the brushes; spaced rollers arranged to engage theperiphery of a pallet suspended on the lifting means to positionsurfaces on a pallet against the brushes; and a channel on the outerperiphery of each of said rollers arranged to engage the edge of thepallet.
 9. In a device for cleaning the peripheral surfaces of concretepipe casting pallets, said pallets having a central passage therethroughand a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rimthereabout arranged to pass through the passage in the pallet and engagethe edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon; a plurality of brushesrotatably supported by the frame arranged to engage surfaces of thepallet; stop means to limit the upward and lateral movement of thelifting roller to position surfaces of a pallet against the brushes;means to adjust the position of the brushes with relation to the stopmeans; means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet intoengagement with the brushes; means to rotate the lifting rollers; andmeans to rotate the brushes, wherein the means to adjust each brushcomprises an arm on whIch the brush is mounted; a tubular member securedto the frame adjacent the arm; an axle telescoped in the tubular memberto which the arm is secured; means between the arm and the frame toadjustably rotate the axle in the sleeve; screw means between the axleand the sleeve to move the axle longitudinally of the tubular member;and means to secure the axle and tubular member against relativemovement after adjustment.
 10. The combination called for in claim 9wherein the drive means for the brush is a motor mounted on the arm. 11.In a device for cleaning the horizontal and vertical peripheral surfacesof concrete pipe casting pallets, said pallets having a central passagetherethrough and a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller; meansmovably securing said lifting roller to the frame such that said liftingroller is arranged to pass through the central passage in the pallet tosuspend the pallet on the lifting roller; first and second brushesrotatably supported by the frame arranged to engage surfaces of thepallet; bristles on said first brush engageable with horizontal surfaceson the pallet; bristles on said second brush engageable with verticalsurfaces on the pallet; means to raise the lifting roller to move thepallet into engagement with the bristles on the first and secondbrushes; means to rotate the lifting roller about a horizontal axis; andmeans to rotate the brushes.
 12. The combination called for in claim 11wherein the means movably securing said lifting roller to the framecomprises: an arm; means securing said lifting roller to one end of saidarm; means pivotally securing the other end of said arm to the frame;and wherein said means to raise the lifting roller comprises: meanssecured to the frame and to the arm to pivot the arm relative to theframe.